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2011/05/24

France represented by AFNOR supports Montenegro in a project to use standards to accelerate its European integration

How to articulate rules and standards? How can the European standards help in the competitiveness of the economic sector of Montenegro? Review of the roundtable May 16, 2011 organised by the Montenegrin Ministry of Economy.

The Ministry of Economy of the Government of Montenegro and its standardization institute held on Monday, May 16, 2011 in Podgorica, Montenegro's capital, a roundtable on the use of voluntary standards in support of public policies. This event, supported by the European Union, took place under the project "Development of quality infrastructure in Montenegro”, led by AFNOR. It gathered many representatives of Montenegrin ministries, those that could relay and implement the voluntary European standards and Leopold Maurer, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Montenegro, and Montenegro’s economy vice-minister: Zoran PERISIC.

Voluntary standards are an essential contribution to the European edifice, and particularly for the internal market. Since the Single Act of 1985, harmonization of standards has improved the competitiveness of an increasing number of sectors of the economy. This process has taken on even greater significance with the recent extension to the field of services.

"It is necessary for the government of a country such as Montenegro to have a clear policy regarding the voluntary standards," says Pascal Poupet from AFNOR, head of the project “Development of infrastructure quality in Montenegro”. This is especially important facing the fact that European standards relate more and more facets of public policy: environmental protection, sustainable development, social responsibility and all aspects of security and risk management. "This modern approach of co-regulation is supported by the European Union as part of efforts to improve the effectiveness and relevance of the regulations. However, it clearly raises the question of the role of government: it is not easy to get out of the traditional position of a universal decision maker and ultimate arbiter, and to impulse a collective and consensual movement with all stakeholders of the society and the economy,” indicates Mr. Poupet.

The discussions enabled participants to compare different approaches for linking regulation and standards. Proposals have been put forward for a strategy of encouraging the use of European standards, both in fundamental areas of security - like the seismic design of buildings – and in important economic sector such as services and tourism.

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